Today, I want to shed light on five dirty little secrets that PTO leaders really don’t talk about.
They’re all universal truths to acknowledge.
If nothing else than to help you feel that you’re not alone in the often difficult work of volunteering for a school parent group.
Because when you’re working in your PTO, you might not see the larger picture and think that it’s just your group not getting something right or having a unique experience.
But there are so many commonalities across parent groups, so let’s talk about a few of them today.
Almost All PTOs Struggle to Find Enough Volunteers
First, your PTO may often struggle to recruit enough volunteers.
Especially now, in the new era post-pandemic, things are a bit funky and new norms have yet to be established.
Parents don’t seem to be as engaged in schools or parent groups as they were before the pandemic.
Do I think it’s a lost cause?
Not at all.
The landscape has changed a bit and it’s going to take a bit for things to settle.
In the meantime, PTO may have to scale back until volunteer engagement rebounds.
What will happen is that all the events that parents are used to having are going to go away.
Parents will notice and wonder what happened.
They’ll then realize that the “magic fairies” who are the PTO people currently doing the work do not actually exist.
It’s real people—they’re just not magic, and it doesn’t just magically happen.
Uninvolved parents will realize that they’ll need to step up to make the fun happen.
But in the meantime, PTO programs and events will scale down a bit because volunteers can only do so much.
Think about why you’re involved.
Is it because you enjoy the power trip?
You enjoy getting nacho cheese on your hands and clothes every Friday night at the football game as you work the concession stand?
Your life’s dream was to be crafting a dozen social media posts to promote the cookie dough fundraiser?
No. You want more and better for your kids.
I do too.
When my oldest was a Senior a few year ago, I was determined to plan an After Prom party for his class.
It didn’t matter to me if no one else came and no one else had fun but his girlfriend and him.
In truth, it was hours upon hours of work to plan and pull off, and the process took over my life for many months.
And yes, it was such a relief when it was over.
But seeing my son’s face and his girlfriend’s face at after prom—he actually thanked me and said what a great, great time they had.
For me, that was 100% worth it.
So I’m doing it for my kids.
You’re doing it for your kids and maybe some other people’s kids too.
So does this mean you’re going to just wait around for those uninvolved parents to have that lightbulb moment of realization?
Nope. You’re going to continue to try to get them involved, using different techniques.
Again, I have other videos and blog posts all about recruiting volunteers because this is a constant issue in some way or another.
PTO Roles Don’t Come with Training
The second secret is that just because you have the title doesn’t mean you have the training or knowledge that you need to do your PTO job.
Sometimes you have to learn and grow into your role, and that’s why it’s really important to get resources to help you along the way.
Because PTO work is not at all common sense that one can just pick up.
When I first started as a PTO leader many moons ago, I noticed there wasn’t a lot of help out there in terms of training or resources for PTO volunteers.
It was so overwhelming to step into the PTO President role. So much to learn and I felt like I needed to know it all right then so that I didn’t look like a fool.
I really felt the weight of other volunteers looking to me to guidance and I didn’t know what I was doing, to be perfectly honest.
So I started slowly to figure things out.
And because I thrive on systems and processes, I started to make those too.
All of that work turned into what’s now known as the President’s Success Kit.
The President’s Planner was the original resource because Presidents are key to a healthy group.
Sure there are a lot of other factors too, but having a strong and organized leader who can help the group envision goals and then chart out a course to bring those goals into reality is really the end game for PTOs.
Throughout the years, the time spent volunteering in my children’s schools helped me create resources for every other PTO role too.
Because everyone involved in a PTO deserves to have guidance and support and not feel like they’re left to figure it all out on their own.
Friends Won’t Always Come Through
In this the 15th year of my PTO volunteer career, this next secret is a hard pill to swallow for me.
So that’s why I I want to share it with you too.
The reality that a friend you’ve come to trust, respect and rely on may at some point let you down in the PTO work you’re doing together.
Maybe they don’t step up into a role that desperately needs to be filled.
Maybe they don’t sign up to help with concessions and you’re left doing the work yourself.
The biggest point to remember here is that it’s nothing against you personally (it probably has nothing to do with you!).
Maybe your friend is going through something you don’t know about or maybe they just had a momentary lapse.
Disappointment is natural.
It’s a lesson for me that although I treat others how I want to be treated, not everyone one is capable of doing that in return.
I’ve learned to emulate Taylor and literally shake it off.
Parent Demands Exceed Their Willingness to Help (You Can’t Please Everyone)
The fourth dirty little PTO secret is that parents always want more than what they’re willing to do.
Case in point: this past year, my high school’s PTO wasn’t able to sponsor an after prom.
Parents who when asked at the start of the year were so enthusiastic about making the event happen turned out to not be interested in doing any of the work actually required to do the work.
In response to a survey about their interest in helping out with different aspects of the process, no one indicated they’d be willing to do any of the specific work.
This connects back to secrets #1 and 3, with parents hoping the magic fairies will do the work to happen and friends not coming through.
The fact that parents always want more than they’re willing to do can feel a more than a little defeating.
So this year, the Senior Parent Committee made the hard decision to not sponsor the event.
Sure PTO volunteers are willing to do a lot for the whole school community, but at some level, parents have to want it for themselves and their own kids.
They really do have to step up at some point.
Secretaries and Custodians are the Key to Success
The dirty little PTO secret is that secretaries, administrative assistants, and custodians are your key to success as a PTO leader.
If you do not have these fine friends on your side, if you do not ingratiate yourself, if you do not tell them how wonderful they are and thank them for all that they do for you, it’s going to be a tough road ahead.
So definitely make sure to cozy up to these people—and authentically, of course.
You want to definitely be getting these particular school employees on your side because they are the gatekeepers for so many things.
Once you have them on your side, once you are allied with them, then it can make a whole world of difference for you personally and your entire PTO.
If at all possible, develop a relationship with them so that you have their personal cell phone numbers.
This can make such a huge difference in your life as a PTO volunteer because it’ll make it easier for you to do your volunteer job.
You’ll be able to send a quick text letting them know you need access to the locked office or an extra trash can for the dessert reception in the Media Center instead of physically tracking them down in the school.
One strategy for showing how much you appreciate their willingness to help you out is to occasionally give these staff members snacks and little surprises.
This sprinkling of appreciation throughout the year only serves to solidify their relationship with not only me, but the entire PTO.
Watch This!
Over to You
So there you have some dirty little PTO secrets that will help you be a better PTO volunteer and have a more enjoyable time doing the hard work you’ve committed to.
I hope each of these secrets pulls the curtain back a bit to reveal some best practices.
Resources You’ll Love
Presidents
Picture this: you, the PTO/PTA President, taking charge like a boss, armed with a treasure trove of resources that will make everyone else wondering exactly how you manage it.
Your secret weapon? The President’s Success Kit!
This isn’t a bunch of busywork templates that look really pretty, but don’t actually amount to anything.
This kit is a collection of game-changing, mind-blowing arsenal of systems, tools, and templates designed to make your life easier and turn your dreams of doing fantastic things for your school community into reality.
The President’s Success Kit is jam-packed with bite-sized nuggets of guidance that will empower you to lead with confidence.
Get your copy today!
Fundraising
Ready to dive more into the work of PTO and school fundraising, but wish you could have a plan of action ready at your fingertips?
Time to learn more about the Fundraising Success Kit!
It’s never been easier to hold highly profitable school fundraisers using these customizable strategies and step by step plans that work for every type of parent group, and any type of fundraiser, from a traditional catalog to A-thon Fundraisers and everything in between.
This resource is guidance plus a complete plan walking through the entire process of fundraising for your school, including a publicity plan, templates, forms and a planner kit to help you get outrageously organized in a snap!
Parent Involvement & Membership
Stop struggling to recruit PTO members.
Get results with the Parent Involvement Success Kit.
This comprehensive toolkit provides everything you need to attract, recruit, and engage families effectively.
Forget generic flyers; we’re talking customizable action plans, proven engagement strategies, and ready-to-use templates for welcome packets, back-to-school information, and new member orientation.
Streamline your membership drive, build a strong parent community, and make a real difference in your school.
Get organized, get results.
Treasurers
Empower Your Role as Treasurer. Effective financial management shouldn’t be stressful. Instead of piecing together systems on the fly, imagine having a proven framework at your fingertips.
The Treasurer’s Success Kit provides that framework. This expertly designed system empowers you to manage your group’s finances with confidence and ease, saving you valuable time and eliminating unnecessary stress.
Experience the difference:
- Certainty and Peace of Mind: Know you’re covering all your bases, every time.
- Clear, Actionable Roadmaps: Follow a simple monthly plan for consistent success.
- Streamlined Organization: Enjoy a perfectly organized system that keeps everything in its place.
- Increased Confidence: Feel in control and prepared for any financial task.
- Simplified Record Keeping: Effortlessly manage past and present records.
- Instant Organization: Get set up and running in minutes.
Transform your treasurer experience!
As a PTO/PTA or Booster Club Treasurer, you’ve got enough on your plate and don’t need another full time job.
Stop spending precious volunteer hours battling confusing spreadsheets and struggling to make sense of your group’s finances.
The Treasurer’s Finance Manager is your all-in-one solution, designed with your unique needs in mind.
Imagine: auto-magically generated reports, budgets that update themselves, and complete financial transparency without having to do any math.
Finally, a user-friendly tool that saves you time, reduces stress, and delivers exactly what you need to easily manage your group’s money.
No fluff or confusing features, it’s all been distilled down to a streamlined, low learning curve experience that anyone can do.
Purchase once, use forever!
